Slider holdover mechanism for double cylinder knitting machine



G. H. NOLL May 24, 1966 SLIDER HOLDOVER MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE CYLINDER KNITTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

WN WH. la G m E e pm MMM A TTORNE Y May 24, 1966 G. H. No| l 3,252,305

SLIDER HOLDOVER MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE CYLINDER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE I-. N @L a Isa BYMMX @qu Q A TTORNE Y United States Patent O 3,252,305 SLIDER HOLDOVER MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE CYLINDER KNITTING MACHINE George H. Noll, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Wildman Jacquard Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 328,579 11 Claims. (Cl. 66-14) 'This invention relates to circular knitting machines of the double coaxial needle-cylinder type wherein each cylinder contains opposing vertical slots for holdingthe usual knitting instrumentalities, namely, needles, sliders, and jacks. A set .of double-ended needles is slidably arranged in the vertical slots for partial or total transfer from one cylinder to the other through the motion induced to sliders by a selectively movable camming system. The sliders, which are positioned as is customary one Iabove each needle in the upper cylinder and one in the lower. cylinder below each needle, have cut-into each inward edge a slider hook for cooperatively engaging the needle hook during that portion of the knitting sequence that involves each particular slider.

During the course yof knitting in Ithis type of machine, it may become desirable while all of the needles are being held by the upper cylinder to put alternate needles into the transfer position. This operation in the past has posed.

a particular problem in -that those sliders which were not chosen to transfer their needles were not then supported and were free to fall downward into a transfer position.

In a type of' knitting where a choice is made between transferring or retaining a portion of the needles while in the upper -cylinder it has been found that two forms ofv sliders, when inserted into the upper cylinder in the desired order, will accomplish the needed result. The two forms used in this instance .are known as long butt sliders and short butt sliders, the difference between them being that the butt, or that portion which extends perpendicularly from the length of the slider for controlling its vertical motion, is longer in one instance than the other. The two types of sliders may be arranged about the upper cylinder in `an alternate formation, in alternate pairs, or in a variety fof forms which will produce the desired result when all of the long butt sliders are moved to the transfer position `and all of the short butt sliders are retained in the knit position.

The present invention pertains specifically to the positive control fof those sliders which are to be held in the knitting position while other selected sliders `are lowered to the transfer position. The positive controlling means is so arranged las to perform its function in conjunction with Vthe transfer cam in a manner to allow the transfer of a part tor-all of the needles as desired.

The object of the invention is to provide novel improvements in a double cylinder knitting machine of 4the type described wherein a holdover mechanism is movably inserted into an active position to support those sliders with their attached needles which are to remain in the upper cylinder while a second group of sliders are cammed downward to the needle transfer position.

A further object is to provide such a holdover mechanism in combination with the transfer cam whereby further cams in the control stand box may ,actuate the selective choice between holding all the needles for knitting in the upper cylinder, lor transferring part or all to the lower cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to finish simple l release means for moving the transfer cam away from contact with both types of sliders and for moving the holdover mechanism into the active position during the selective operation where all needles lact in the upper cylinder.

Patented May 24, 1966 These and other objects tof the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed. The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of portion of an upper section ring showing the invention and the direction of rotation;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 in FIG. 1 showing -the invention in a knit position whereby no sliders are lowered to the transfer position;

FIG. 3 is asimilar section but with the cams in position to move the long butts to the transfer position while holding over the short butts;

FIG. 4 is a similar section with the cams being set for lowering all sliders to the transfer position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of one full section of the upper cam ring with the section cams developed into a flat view and in front elevation as seen from outside the section -and with the mounting members omitted;

FIG. 6 isa similar elevation of the lower section ring; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the upper section ring showing the slider holdover mechanism.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention will be described as being applied to a superimposed double cylinder, multifeed knitting machine such as that manufactured by Wildman Jacquard Co., of Norristown, Pennsylavnia. An upper section ring 11 is driven in a well-known manner for rotation in a oounterclockwise direction about a stationary upper needle cylinder 12 wherein longitudinal slots 13 are cut. Double-ended needles (not shown) are controlled for vertical motion within the slots 13 by needle sliders in the usual manner. In the present invention long butt sliders 14 and short butt sliders 15 (FIG. 3) are used in order to proi vide .a positive meansl whereby a specific portion :of the total sliders m-ay be lowered to the transfer position while -the balance of the sliders remain unaffected by the lowering device. This method for separating some sliders for downward transfer of their needles while holding the others in the upper cylinder has been accomplised in prior art, however, the results were not entirely satisfactory. While a portion of the sliders were cammed into the transfer position, the remaining ones, while not forced downward, were not positively supported and were free to drop by gravity to the lower position. This would in many cases result in a mistransfer and defective material yor damage to .the needles. provides positive holding means for those sliders which `are n-ot selected to be moved into transfer position.

The holdover mechanism generally designated 16 is carried by the rotatable section ring 11 at a point preceding each yarn feeding station (not shown). A holdover mechanism 16 is appliedl to each of the numerous removable sections 16 held by the ring 11 and each section contains the cams that form the -continuing cam paths to determine the action of the sliders 14 and 15. The removable section 16 is drilled to receive a holdover plunger 17 of circular cross section which, when in position, is movable radially of the cylinder 12. The inward end of the plunger 17 is slotted to receive the vertically extending arm 18 of -a holdover cam 19 with a horizontally disposed upper surface 20 directed toward the faceof the cylinder 12 (FIG. 2). The holdover cam 19 is fixed to the plunger 17 as by a screw 21 and is movable radially from an extended, holding location as seen in FIG. 2 to a retracted, non-holding location as seen in FIG. 4. The means for causing the radial motion of the cam 19 will be explained fully below. The upper arm 18 is in contact with a pin 22 which is inserted into a The present disclosure 3 drilled hole in the section 16 and is urged toward the holding location by a compression spring 23.

The cam 19 provides a positive holding mexans in the upper cylinder for retaining the short butt sliders while they are being passed by the transfer cam (to be explained) when it is set to move only the long butt slide-rs 14 into the transfer position (FIG. 3). Each short butt slider 15 has fonmed on its outer Vertical edge a slider supporting step 24 with a horizontal lowe1 edge which will -rest upon the upper surface of the cam 19 when that cam is moved to the holding location (FIGS. 2 and 3). The long butt sliders 14 do not have a supporting step and hence are not affected in any way by the holdover `cam 19.

To restrain the holdover cam 19 from being extended inwardly beyond the holding location which would cause the cam 19 to strike the sliders, the plunger 17 has a vertical milled slot 25 (FIG. 2) on both sides of the v i tally as at 29 to remove the lower half of the plunger inward to at least the milled slots 25 which leaves a semicircular end View at 30 (FIGS. 2 and 7). A push pin 31 is inserted into the surface 29 of the plunger 17 near its end which will for-m an inverted notch 32 therebetween. i

Beneath the plunger 17 a round headed pivot pin 33 is inserted into the removable section 16 and will serve as the pivot for moving the cam 19 as will be more fully explained below.

Below the pivot pin 33 and extending radially through the section 16' is a transfer cam 34 (FIG. 2) for selectively lowering the needle sliders to a transfer position. The body portion 35 of the cam 34 is of a generally square cross section and is slidably contained within an upper plate 36 and supported by a lower plate 37 which are fastened together as by screws 38 (FIG. 7). The transfer cam face 39 (FIG. 5), or that surface which will l contact the 'butts 14 and 15 when they are selected, is

downwardly directed away yfrom the direction of rotation at an angle in the order of 40 degrees. A narrow slot 40 is cut longitudinally in the upper surface of the body portion 35 (FIG. 2) to enclose a compression spring 41 which will bear against a stop pin 42 which is inserted into the upper plate 36 and extends downward within the slot 40. The spring 41 will tend to hold the transfer cam 34 in the -rest position shown in FIG. 2 in which the cam 34 is held outwardly against the upper plate 36.

The lower plate 37 contains a vertical slot 43 which eX- tends the full length beneath the body portion 35 and supported therein by a pin 44 is a catch pawl 45. A compression spring 46 is inserted into a vertical hole 47 drilled into the slot 43 to urge the pawl 45 upward against the lower surface of the transfer cam body portion 35 (FIG. 2). Cut into that same lower surface are two pawl receiving notches 48 which are angled to accept the tip 49 of the pawl 45 and to lock the transfer cam 34 inward toward the cylinder 12 at two indexed points. The upward pressure of the spring 46 will force the tip 49 into the notches 48 and hold the transfer cam in a first operative position as shown in FIG. 3 or a second operative position as shown in FIG. 4.

A vertical push pin 50 is inserted into the outer end of the body portion 35 `and extends above the top surface of that member in a position to be contacted by a control cam 51 which is fastened at the inward end of a control stand plunger 52 (FIG. 1). The plunger 52 isactuated from a control stand 53 which is merely suggested in `the drawing because such stands are Well known.

As an interconnecting linkage for transmitting counteracting motion between the movable transfer cam 34 and movable holdover cam 19, a push plate 54 with a bifurcated lower portion 55 is supported astraddle the body portion 35 by a pin 5,6. The upper rounded end 57 extends upward into the inverted notch 32 of the plunger 17 (FIG. 2). It will be seen in FIG. 2 that, as pin 50 is pressed inward, the push plate 54 will necessarily be pressed against the pivot pin 33 and the rounded end 57 will draw the plunger 17 outward by contact with the pin 31 as shown in FIG. 4. However, it is a particular feature of this invention that, when the transfer cam is moved inwardly from the non-contact position shownin FIG. 2 to the first operative position shown in FIG. 3, the plunger 17 has not been moved and the holdover cam 19 is still extended in the position to support the step 24 of the short butt sliders 15. This is due to the separation in the notch 32 between the pin 31 and the rounded end 57 which should be suliicient to allow the push plate54 to assume a generally perpendicular position before its contact with the pin 31 would move the plunger 17. When the transfer cam 34 has been pressed inward the full extent of its travel, it is then in the second operative position as shown` in FIG. 4 and the holdover cam 19 has been retracted to a non-holding position.

A release cam 58 (FIGS. 2 and 7) is movably controlled from the control stand 53 to serve in returning the cams 19 and 34 to their original position as shown in FIG. 2. In this position the rotation of ring 11 will pass the transfer cam 34 out of contact with both the long 14 `and short 15 butt sliders so that both will remain in a knitting position.

Reference to FIG. 5 will illustrate the cam tracks which dictate the Vertical motion to each needle slider. A gate cam 59 is stationed at the entrance to this section 16 and in the present instance will act upon all the slider butts. Cam 59 forms a part of `a co-pending application and is not included with the instant disclosure. It is sufficient to say that, when the cam 59 is in an extended position, all slider butts will pass downward to the knit cam track 60 where they may be acted upon by the transfer cam 34 or allowed to pass and follow the knitting track (FIG. 5) Cam 59 will pass' below the short butt slider step Z4. FIG. 6 shows the lower cam ring which revolves about the lower cylinder (not shown) and coacts with the upper section ring 11 in the commonly known manner.

To review the operation, the holdover mechanism is mounted in the upper section ring which involves counterclockwise around the stationary upper cylinder. Two types of sliders, long and short butt, have been inserted into the upper cylinder in the desired order. In various f types of knitting which are possible with these machines,

it is necessary to put the long butt sliders 14 into a transfer position 61 (FIG. 5) while retaining the short butt sliders 15 in a knit position. The control cam 51 is moved by prearranged means to a position where it will be contacted by the push pin 50 and thus press the transfer cam 34 inward to the first operative position (FIG. 3). The holdover cam 19 will remain in the holding location so that, as the long butt sliders 14 lare depressed by the transfer cam 34, the short butt sliders 15 which are not affected by the transfer cam will be positively held by the step 24 as it rests upon the holdover cam surface 20. The transfer cam 34 Will be held precisely in a position against spring pressure by the catch pawl 45 which will have been pressed into the rst notch 48.

Now assume that both the long and short butt sliders were to be put into a transfer position. The control cam 51 would have been moved to the third inward position (FIG. 1) where the push pin 50 would move vthe transfer cam 34 to the second operative position (FIG. 4) and the catch pawl 45 would lock by being seated in the second notch 48. The push plate 54 would have pivoted over the pin 33 andpressed the push pin 31 which would have retracted the holdover cam 19 and would have allowed all of the sliders to follow the descending face 39 of the transfer cam 34 and move into a `transfer position.

The return of the holdover mechanism to the original or rest position is effected by raising the release cam 58 to be contacted by the outer end of the catch pawl 4S (FIG. 2) which will allow `the springs 23 and 41 to return the mechanism.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept l may be carried out in a number of Ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, and positive holding means for holding in said knitting position those sliders not being selected for moving into said transfer position.

2. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylindervtype having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position into a first operative position and into a second operative position, said first operative position being effective in directing said long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all said sliders to said transfer position, and positive holding means for said short butt sliders while said long butt sliders are'being selectively directed to said transfer position.

3. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating lin said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position in to a first operative posi- -tion and into a second yoperative position, said first operative position being effective in directing said long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all said sliders to said 4transfer position, locking means for indexing said transfer cam in said first operative position or said second operative position, and positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders in said knitting position while said long butt sliders are being selectively directed to said transfer position.

4. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprisingsaid transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all of said sliders to said transfer position, locking means for indexing said transfer cam in said first operative position or said second operative position, release means being cam operated for returning said transfer cam to said non-contact position, and positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders in said knitting position While said long butt sliders are being selectively directed to said transfer position.

5. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position into a first operative position and into a second operative position, said first operative position being effective in directing said long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative v position being effective in directing all of said sliders to said transfer position, locking means for indexing said transfer cam in said first operative position or said second operative position, release means being cam operated for returning said transfer cam to said non-contact position, and positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders in said knitting position while said long butt sliders v are being selectively directed to said transfer position, said holding means being movable radially from an extended or holding location to a retracted or non-holding location.

6. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, each -of said short butt sliders including an outer vertical edge, and a slider supporting step being integrally formed on said edge, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position in to a first operative position and into a second operative position, said first operative position being effective in directing said long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all of said sliders to said transfer position, locking means for indexing said transfer cam in said first operating position or said second operating position, release means being cam operated for returning said transfer cam to said noncontact position, and positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders in said knitting position While said long butt sliders are being selectively directed to said transfer position, said holding means being movable radially from an extended or holding location to a retracted or non-holding location.

7. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of -short butt sliders, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position into a first operative position and into a second operative position, said first operative position being effective in directing s'aid long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all of said sliders to said transfer position, positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders while said long butt sliders are holding location to a retracted, nonholding location, and

interconnecting linkage for transmitting counteracting motion from said transfer cam to said holding means.

8. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position into a rst operative position and into a second operative position, said rst operative position being effective in directing said long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all of said sliders to said transfer position, locking means for indexing said transfer cam in said first operative position or said second operative position, release means being cam operated for returning said transfer cam to said non-contact position, positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders while said long butt sliders are being selectively directed to said transfer position, said holding means being movable radially from an extended, holding location to a retracted, non-holding location, each of said short butt sliders including an outer vertical edge, and a slider supporting step being integrally formed on said edge, said step being held by said positive holding means when moved into said extended location, and interconnecting linkage for transmitting counteracting motion from said transfer cam to said holding means.

9. In an independent needle knitting machine of the double cylinder type having an upper cylinder with longitudinally directed slots therein, a plurality of needle sliders operating in said upper cylinder, said sliders comprising a plurality of long butt sliders and a plurality of short butt sliders, said long butt sliders and said short butt sliders being arranged yabout said upper cylinder in a predetermined sequential formation, all of said sliders being movable in said slots between a knitting position and a transfer position, a transfer cam for selectively lowering said sliders into said transfer position, said transfer cam being movable from a non-contact position into a rst operative position and into a` second Operative position, said first operative position being effective in` directing said long butt sliders to said transfer position, said second operative position being effective in directing all of said sliders to said transfer position, locking means for indexing said transfer cam in said first operative position or said second operative position, said locking means comprising a spring urged catch pawl and pawl receiving notches being carried by said transfer cam, release means being cam operated for returning said transfer cam to said non-contact position by overcoming the spring tension on said catch pawl, positive holding means for retaining said short butt sliders in said knitting position While said long butt sliders are being selectively directed to said transfer position, said holding means including a horizontally disposed upper surface, said holding means being movable radially from an extended, holding location to a retracted, non-holding locati-on, each of said short butt sliders including an outer vertical edge, and a slider supporting step being integrally formed on each said edge, said step being held by said positive holding means when moved into said extended location, and interconnecting linkage for transmitting counteracting motion from said transfer cam ,to said holding means, said linkage being adapted to move said holding means from said extended location to said retracted location only when said transfer cam is moved to said second operative position.

10. Mechanism as dened in claim 9 wherein said link-` age comprises a push plate member being pivotally carried by said transfer cam, a Contact pin in position for rocking said plate member through a pivotal arc, and an abutment for moving said holding means by contact with said plate member.

11. Mechanism as defined in claim 10 which further includes coacting tension means for simultaneously returning said transfer cam to said non-contact position and said holding means to said extended location upon being releasedy by said locking means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,170,078 8/1939 Houseman 66-14 X V2,412,248 12/1946 Bristow 66-14 2,714,813 8/1955 Hill 66--14 X 2,871,684 2/1959 Burdett 66-14 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN INDEPENDENT NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE CYLINDER TYPE HAVING AN UPPER CYLINDER WITH LONGITUDINALLY DIRECTED SLOTS THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF NEEDLE SLIDERS OPERATING IN SAID CYLINDERS, SAID SLIDERS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LONG BUTT SLIDERS AND A PLURALITY OF SHORT BUTT SLIDERS, SAID SLIDERS BEING MOVABLE IN SAID SLOTS BETWEEN A KNITTING POSITION AND A TRANSFER POSITION, A TRANSFER CAM FOR SELECTIVELY LOWERING SAID SLIDERS INTO SAID TRANSFER POSITION, AND POSITIVE HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING IN SAID KNITTING POSITION THOSE SLIDERS NOT BEING SELECTED FOR MOVING INTO SAID TRANSFER POSITION. 